Welcome To Karma! Magazine

photos and review by Morgan Hermiston

On a rare sunny afternoon in Glasgow, we headed to Nice N Sleazy to kickstart an afternoon and evening of live music as part of Crowded Flat and SMC’s multi-venue event, ‘Houseguest’. There is a similar approach to other all-day indoor festivals such as ‘Stag & Dagger’ and ‘Tenement Trail’, but ‘Houseguest’ is different in that all three of their venues are found on Sauchiehall Street. With the event on its second year, and completely selling out, it was bound to be an unforgettable day full of homegrown talent.

The first band we saw were Count the Days in the downstairs area of Nice N Sleazy. Count the Days are a group whose energy for performing was immediately felt. Together, they amped up the packed out room and held their attention, which would soon turn to adoration, as they powered through a momentous setlist. Frontman Div Walls is a natural at working a crowd to his advantage, telling everyone to crouch down and jump up at the start of the chorus. It was that particular moment that sold the set completely for me, showing exactly how much they’d filled the venue as one of the opening bands of the day. A cover of Lustra’s ‘Scotty Doesn’t Know’ was thrown in amongst an array of originals including debut ‘Above You’ and recently released ‘Springbank Road’. Thumping tempos and captivating choruses encouraged mosh pits, which Walls himself got involved in, subsequently losing his mic (temporarily) in the process.

We stayed in the same venue for the next set, which came from Aim For Two. The group are no strangers to live performances, with a set at last year’s ‘Tenement Trail’ and a slot alongside The Zebecks supporting Basht at King Tut’s. From Paolo Nutini-esque vocals in their live rendition of originals like ‘Fair One’ and immersive bass lines in ‘Nicotine’, Aim For Two were quick to draw listeners in and hold attention throughout. As well as most recent release ‘Pieces’, they covered Stereophonics’ ‘Dakota’ which effortlessly had everyone singing along. If you’re a fan of bands like Wunderhorse and The Black Keys, then you’ll love Aim For Two. You can catch them play on May 30^th as they support One Nine Eight in Audio. You can find tickets for this here.

For the next band, we headed along to Variety Bar where Dot Pixis were about to begin their set. Along with offering a wide range of bands and artists, ‘Houseguest’ also got the balance right between loud, energetic performances, and more stripped back acoustic sets. As did Dot Pixis, whose opening set managed to pack in a lot of sound for a smaller setting. Evie Tungatt’s vibrant vocals soared through the venue, accompanied by a range of musical incorporations from guitar to tambourine. Yet to release a single, this didn’t stop them drawing in attention through harmonies, their quintessentially quirky lyrics and songs that resonated widely. This is just another successful set that Dot Pixis can add to their long and ever-growing list of live momentum. If you spot Dot Pixis on a live bill near you, then I highly recommend seeing them, you’ll leave wishing you had their songs at hand to listen to.

We stayed in Variety Bar for Puppyteeth’s performance. Their sets are always memorable, and only for the best reasons. I’ve seen them a few times now, and each show is different than the last. Their set was full of original tracks, both unreleased and released, including ‘Black Honey’, which were a treat to fans new and old. Beautifully vibrant vocals from Anna Trost, and a stripped back performance contrasted previous shows, yet complimented the lyrics and soulfulness of each tune. The only major downfall of this day was nothing to do with organisers or performers, but rather the audience and their etiquette. While I don’t think the loud chatting took much away from the set, I did have to strain to hear Anna’s vocals and the instrumental portions. I was at the front, so I can only imagine how impossible it would’ve been to hear for those further back. Puppyteeth were nothing if not professional and powered through their set regardless.

Next we found ourselves in the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) for the start of Lacuna’s performance. The alt-rock group just finished soundcheck when we arrived, but in no time at all, the room was full. With the most vivacious of vocals paired with haunting harmonies, Lacuna were one of my highlights of the afternoon. Houseguest is the perfect opportunity to watch acts you haven’t been able to see before, and a set like this one is what it’s all about. Their setlist consisted of originals, including recently released ‘Creature Comforts’, with an unlikely cover also in the mix. Out of the hundreds of gigs I’ve attended, I have never heard anyone cover the Black Eyed Peas. Lacuna’s slower rendition of the band’s 2009 track ‘Meet Me Halfway’ was evocatively expressive of the lyrics, which are actually pretty poignant. It was evident from the committed crowd and their unwavering enthusiasm that Lacuna are a band that are only going to grow in popularity, and you definitely want to get to know them as this happens.

We walked along back to Nice N Sleazy’s and headed downstairs to catch some of National Playboys’ set. The Edinburgh based quintet dynamically displayed their darker, duskier sound through immersive basslines and gritty guitar work. Tracks like ‘Red Spy’ along with newer singles ‘Disease’ and ‘Fragments’ demonstrate this perfectly. With vocals that, at times, sound like a fusion of Grian Chatten (Fontaines D.C.) and Jacob Slater (Wunderhorse), National Playboys are perfect for fans of alternative music, rock, and anything in between. Their set was full of energy, with a knack for alluring audience involvement, making the crowd a crucial concept in their set. National Playboys are heading off on a UK tour, starting with a hometown show Edinburgh’s The Caves on 25^th May. Tickets for their tour can be found here, or on their Instagram. They’re a band I’d 100% recommend seeing.

The final act we caught that day were Sister Madds who headlined the upstairs bar area of Nice N Sleazy. I’d waited ages to finally catch this band live, and they are completely worth that anticipation. Vocalist Maddie Cassidy is one of the best frontwomen I’ve ever seen, with her personality and prowess portrayed instantly. While performing  their original tracks including ‘Purgatory’ and ‘Can’t Read Your Lips’, Cassidy and guitarist Mackenzie Burns made the most of their surroundings as they climbed on every stable surface they could find. Drummer Ciaran Whyte and guitarist/backing vocalist Fraser MacCallum kept things grounded onstage, maintaining the foundation of each tune. As with many of the bands that day, Sister Madds covered another artist. They had chosen Chappell Roan’s ‘Hot To Go’ as they moulded this song to match with their self-confessed description of “bratty pop-rock”. When he’s not starting riotous pits at his own set, Div Walls is causing controlled chaos at other people’s gigs. In what looked like an almost telepathic conversation between himself and guitarist Mackenzie, mosh pits broke out multiple times in the intimate setting, which subsequently saw Mackenzie himself crowd surfing.

Sister Madds were the perfect close to what was already an unforgettable event. Their energy was infectious and if they could’ve played on longer, I don’t think anybody would’ve complained. ‘Houseguest’, sold out for a second consecutive year, is an event that allows upcoming acts like the ones we saw on 12^th April to be seen. It’s a difficult climate for growing talents in local scenes, with smaller grassroot venues closing at rapid rates. ‘Houseguest’ is a perfect example of an impactful way for these venues to protected, and for emerging excellence to be appreciated too.